Mixing valve



July '29, 1941. A. J. RUEGG ETAL ,2

MIXING VALVE '4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 2'7, 1938 Ira/W219:- QZerZJj&ag 9,

Glen

July 29, 11941. A. J. RUEIGG EFAL 2, 5

' MIXING VALVE Filed Jan. 27, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 may: J 124x 99,

.July 29, 1941. A. J. RUEGG ETAL 2,250,815

MIXING VALVE I Filed Jan. 27, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 29, i941.

A. J. RUEGG E-r AL MIXING VALVE Filed Jan. 27,-1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 poses.

"mixing valve.

Patented July 29, 1,941

} assignors to Grayson Heat Controil, Ltd, Lynwoodfialiit, a corporation oi @alliioa Application Zilanuary 27, 193%, Seriai Not 1 3K120 Z (Ila.

This invention pertains to mixing valves for mixing hot and cold liquids to produce and deperature.

While the principles of our invention may utilized in valves designed for various purposes and locations, the one here illustrated as exemplifying our invention is designed for household use to furnish water of a predetermined desired temperature for bath, shower, and other pur- Thermostatically-controlled mixing valves are quite common in the art, but the tempered water' delivered by such valves has heretofore varied in temperature in accordance with variations in the pressures of the hot and cold water delivered to the valve. For instance, if such a valve were set todeliver water at a temperature of 120", the opening'of a faucet in the hot water line so as to decrease the pressure would result in a preponderance of cold water delivered to. the valve, thereby causing temporarily at least a sharp reduction in temperature of the resultant mixture. cold water line would result in a sharp rise in temperature of the mixture delivered from the Consequently, as was previously stated, the temperature of the resultant mixture delivered by such valves has been subject to variations occasioned by differences in the pressures of the hot and cold water supply to the valve.

One of the purposes of our present invention is to overcome the temperature fluctuations of the resultant mixture occasioned by pressure variations in the supply lines. In our invention we have accomplished this result by incorporating in the valve structure a pressure-controlled valve arrangement which balances the pressures of the incoming liquids. so that the quantity delivered into the mixing chamber of the valve will vary inversely with. thepressure, thereby maintaining a uniform temperature of the delivered mixture and obviating those undesirable temperature fluctuations which have been caused by pressure variations in the supply lines.

Another advantageous feature of our invention resides in the construction which entirely shuts off the hot or the cold water flow, as'the case may be, in the event that the cold or the hot water supply line to the valve should be cut oil. This feature obviates the possibility of the delivery of scalding water to a person taking a shower or tub bath in. the event that the cold water supply should for some reason be entirely cut off.

Another feature of our invention, which also Likewise, a decrease in pressure-in the involves a safety factor in that it precludes scalding of the user of the water delivered by liver a liquid mixtureof a predetermined temthe mixing valve, resides in the feature which entirely shuts. d the-hot water supply in the event of breakage of the thermostatic control or of the inoperativeness of the same for any reason whatsoever.

Another object of our invention is to provide a mixing valve which will be'accurate and-reliable so as to insure the delivery of water at the predetermined temperature for which the valve is set and with a minimum' of variation from the selected temperature. Our invention further contemplates a valve construlction in which all of the parts are accessible from and removable through the front of the valve so that any necessary repairs or replacement of parts can be accomplished from the front of the structure, thereby obviating disconnectionfrom the water lines in or behind the wall and obviating all labor in the rear of the wall in which the valveis mounted.

Another feature of our invention resides in the provision of means whereby both the hot and the cold water supply lines to the valve maylze quickly shut off from the front of the valve, the construction being such that when so shut ofi the-top of the valve casing may be removed to permit access to any parts requiring attention. In other words, the shut-oi! devices are accessible and readily operable and are not dependent tact with the thermostatic element. This'fea:

ture relieves this element from the strains to which such elements have heretofore been subjected by reason of the fact that the hot and coldwater were delivered directly against the element in the mixing chamber. The sudden and wide temperature variations resulting fromthe discharge of both hot and cold water directly against the thermostatic element materially have produced strains in the elements which impaired their durability and effective life.

- Another purpose of our invention is to provide a valve which can be readily adjusted so as to deliver a mixture of any desired temperature,

the construction of the valve being such that the connection I! from which it passes to the chamancing chamber ll near the opposite end thereof.

adjustments may be easily accomplished with a minimum of labor.

Other objects and many of the inherent advantages of our invention should be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description. when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. a a

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view partiallyin section of a mixing valve constructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking toward the right at Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the valve casing with the cap removed, this view being taken on the line H of Fig. 1;

Fig.4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; j I Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5- -5 of Fig. 4; v

' Fig. 6-is asectional view onthe line- 66 of Fig.

'Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the Fig. 5; and

line 1-1 of through the valve.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, the

valve comprises essentially a casing designated generally as H which is shaped to provide, gen- It will be determined by the pressures of the hot and cold water upon the opposite ends of the piston. If, for instance, the pressure of the cold water exceeds that of the hot water, the

piston will move to the right viewing Fig. 4,

thereby through valve 26 reducing the inflow of with the result that the piston will all-8.11 times assume a balanced position determined by the relative pressures on its opposite faces. The

' balancing chamber therefore insures that the I of water. This arrangement obviates the possibility of the delivery of scalding hot water as the result of failure of the cold water supply Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic semi-developed view illustrating the paths of travel of the*liquids erally speaking, four longitudinally extending;

. mixture may be'delivered from the casing-through either or both of two discharge connections i8 and ILone of whichwill in a-standard installation be connected with a tub faucet and the other with a showerhead.

To facilitate an early understanding of the principles and the general mode of operation of a valve constructed in accordance with our invention, reference will first be had to the schematic layout of Fig. 8, and the structural details will be later more fully explained from theremaining figures of the drawings in which they are more clearly illustrated.

Referring now to Fig. 8, the cold water enters the casing through the-connection l1, flows laterally into the longitudinally disposed inlet chamber it, past a shut-off valve to be later described, andenters this chamber from the interior of a cylindrical screen 2! through which it passes outwardly into the chamber I 3; From through a passage into the pressure-equaliafiig chamber ll.

The hot water enters the casing through the her l2.thr0ugh a cylindrical screen 23 identical with screen 2|, thence past a check valve 24, and through a passage 28 into the pressure bal- The flow of hot and cold water intqthis chamber vll is regulated by a pairof valves 21' and fli respectively. controlling the inlet ports leadingf rom-the'passages 23 and, the valves being connected to a centrally disposed piston 28, the

position of which longitudinally of the chamber 7Q front end of-the casing.

and also eliminates the temperature fluctuations of lesser degree which customarily occur as the result of pressure, variations in the line occasioned by the opening of a faucet or faucets in'either the hot or.cold water supply line.

From the pressure-equalizing chamber I, the cold water flows through a passage 29 into a passage ll by. which it isconducted to the inlet port 32 opening into the chamber IS. Similarly, the hot water from the pressure-equalizing chamber H flows through a passage 33 to the inlet port 34 also in communication with the chamber I 5.

The relative proportions of hot and cold water delivered from ports a and 32 into the mixing chamber at one end of chamber I5 is regulated by a slide valve indicated generally by reference character 35 controlling both of these ports and in turn controlled by a thermostatic element 38 in the chamber l5. By means of this thermostatic element, the temperature of the mixture produced by the confluence of the hot and coldwater is regulated and controlled so that the temperature of the mixture delivered from cham-' berll through passage 31 will remain substantially uniform irrespective of variations in either temperature or pressure of-the supplies of hot and cold water. From passage 31 the mixture is delivered from the casing through discharge" connection l8 and alternatelyorsimultaneously through discharge connection ll which isreached through the transverse passage '38.

It should be manifest, therefore, that irrespective of the details of the mechanism employed for accomplishing-the result, .our invention conthis chamber it flows past a' check valve 22 templates a mixingvalve which will deliver a mixture at a uniform temperature irrespective of variations in the pressure or temperature of either the hot or the cold water from which the mixture is produced. The regulating mechanism by which the valve may be set or adjusted to deliver 'a mixture of a higher or a lower tempera-.

ture as well as the details of the mechanisms by which other advantageous accomplishments of our invention are obtained will bebest understood from'the remaining figures of the drawings in which these features are showh. Referring first to-Fi s. 1 to3 thatthefo'ur parallel chambers l2, l3, l4 and l5, heretofore referred to, all open -at the front end or viewing Fig. 1, the left hand end of the casing. This is the end of the casing which is exposed outside the wall in which the casingfis customarily mounted, and since all of the operat ing partsof the valve proper are located in these chambers. access to all of them forremoval, repairs, and replacement may be had from the inclusive, it will be observed versely of chamber l2.

the wall in which-the valve is mounted, which to b closed by check valve 24.

The forward ends of pressure-equalizing chamber 14 and thermostatic chamber l are closed by a pedestal cap 39 which is secured to the end of the casing by stud bolts 4|, leakage being pre-' vented byan interposed gasket 42. The pedestal 5 cap is formed to provide a central, outwardly projecting, elongated hollow boss 43, in which is rotatably mounted the stem 44 of the temperature regulating device. Leakage along the stem is prevented by packing 45 around the stem which is compressed by a gland'46 threaded in the usual manner into the boss 43. The inner end of the stem is provided with a face cam 41 secured to the stem by a screw 48 and held against rotation relatively to the stem by a pin 48.

The cam isadjusted to a position to produce a mixture of the desired temperature by means of a handleSI provided wit a pointer or finger 52 overlying a cover 53 upo the outer face of which ap ears suitable indicia 4 to guide the user in his manipulation of the handle. 'This cap, the open end of which is adapted to rest against the face of the wall in which the valve is located, conceals the valve structure from view and lends a finished and attractive appearance to the device. Elongated screws 55 extending through hollow posts 56 and, threaded into the cap 38 removably hold the cover 53 in position. v

The forward ends of chambers l2 and 13 are closed, as will be apparent from Figs. 3 and 6, by hollow plugs 51 and 58, respectively. The plug S'Ibarries the screen 23 which is equipped at its inner, end with a tapered sleeve 59' adapted to snugly sit in a similarly shaped opening formed in a partition wall 6| extending trans- The partition wall 62 separating the chamber l2 from the inlet passage I6 is provided with an inlet opening 63 surrounded by a valve seat 64 against which a valve 65 mounted upon a stem 66 is adapted to close. This stem is threadedly engaged at its lower end with a tapped opening in a transverse web 61 located in the inlet passage and at its outer end projects through the plug 51 into position to be rotated by a screw driver or the like from outside the forward end of the casing Leak-v age along stem 66 through the plug 51 is prevented by astuifing .box of usual structure comprising the packing 68 and the gland 88.

The purpose of valve 65 is to enable the hot water to be shut off when necessary for repairs or replacements right at the valveitself and in front of the wall in which the valve is mounted, thereby obviating the necessity ofshutting off the water in the basement, as is customary-, -and also the necessity of any manipulation backv of is necessary in connection with valves. N a

Cold water chamber 13 closed. by plug 58 carrying the screen 2| communicates with'the cold water inlet ll through an opening controlled by a valve 1| mounted on a stem 12, this structure being similar in all structural and functional respects with the construction just described in connection with chamber 12.

The hot water which enters the chamber I2 through the screen 23- from the hot water connection l6 flows upwardly from this. chamber through a port I8 in wall 14 into a passage I5, the outer wall 16 of which has a port 11 adapted This valve is locatedin a hollow boss 18 formed on the casing and closed at its outer end by a closure plug .or nut I9, removal of which affords access-to the 75 most mixing having a threaded cylindrical extremity and a peripheral groove 86 communicating with passage 25 and provided with inwardly opening radial ports 81 through which water from passage 25 may enter the bore of seat member 84 which is in communication with the end of chamber II. The opposite end of chamber I4 is provided with a similar seat member 88 having a peripheral groove communicating with passage 23 and radial ports 9| through which the cold water may enter the bore of the seat member. This seat member is not threaded into the casing as is the seat member 84 but is provided with an ,annular flange 92 sitting upon a shoulder 88 formed in the casing and held against displacementby the cap 39. Both of the seat members 84 and 88 are therefore removable from the chamber [4 from the forward end thereof after access to the chamber has been attained by removal of the cap 39.

From Figs. 4 and '7, it will be apparent that seat members 84 and 88 are hollow and that a slide valve 26 is operable in member 88 to regulate the size of the port SI, and a similar valve 21 is operable within the member 84 to regulate the size of the port 81. The valve 26 is connected by a stem with the piston 28, and similarly,

valve 21 is connected with said piston by a stem 95. The relative pressures of the hot'and' cold water entering the regulating chamber l4 are automatically regulated in the following manner.

Assuming that the pressure of the cold water supply" entering chamber 14 through port 9| drops belowthe pressure of the hot water enter ing saidchamber through port 81'. Such drop may be occasioned by the openingof the cold water faucets in-the cold water supply line or by other circumstances. The greater pressure of the hot water upon the right hand face viewing Fig. 4 of the piston 28 will move this piston to the left viewing Fig. 4, thereby causing valve 2! to partially close port 81 and correspondingly diminish the inflow of hot water and conse- .quently reducing the hotwater pressure in the chamber. So long as the pressures of the hot and cold water on opposite faces of the piston 28 remain the same no further'adjustment or movement will take place, but should either pressure rise or fall amovement of piston 28 correspond-- ing to the pressure differential will take place to reestablish equal pressuresof both hot and cold water within the chamber. wherntherefore, the hot and cold water are delivered from this chamber to the mixing chamber, they are delivered at the same pressure, thus overcoming any tendencies for variations in the temperature of the resultant mixture which hasheretofore' resulted from differences in the pressures of the incoming hot and cold water supplies;

From the pressure-equalizing chamber, the cold water is delivered to the mixing chamber through thepassage 29, and the hot water is delivered to said chamber through the passage 33.

A mixing valve locatedfin the reduced lower portion of. chamber" comprises a valve sleeve it snugly fitted into the chamber and provided with slotted ports 91 and 98 extending therethrough. A reciprocatory, tubular valve-memsanders.

water before it is brought incontact with the "thermostat relieves the thermostat of the excessive strains to which it' would be subjected ber 35 is disposed within the sleeve 88 and is provided with ports I01 and I]; adapted to register with the ports 91 and 88, respectively. The

inner end of valve 35 isengaged by a spiral expansion spring I03 interposed between the valve and the end of the chamber, and the outer end of the valve is provided with a yoke I having a transverse top I" threaded onto the nipple "6' oil the thermostatic element and locked in position by a lock nut II".

The thermostatic element, designated general- 11 the hot and cold *water were both discharged directly against it; as has been the case of valves of this character heretofore employed. The protection of the thermostat against subjece tion of excessive temperature ranges and fluctua- 1y 3',- is of the expansible-bellows type which is v filled with an expansible liquid whereby the bellows are expanded upon rise of temperature] The liquid is inserted into the bellows through a-sealable nipple end I09. The outer end of the bellows is guided by a tubular guidemember Ill loosely fitting the walls of the chamber IS, the 7 member being clamped to the top wall of the thermostatic element by a bearing nut III. This nut abuts at its outerend against the cam 41 mounted on the stem II, as previously described.

Assuming that the, parts are in the intermediate position of adjustment illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, the ports 91 and it will each be about one-half open so that substantially equal quan titles of hot and cold water will enterthe mixing sage with the delivery outlet I. If the tem perature of the resultant mixture is higher than that for which the .thermostat-is set,,the thermostatwill expand to thereby move valve member 3! outwardly or to the right viewing Fig. 4, thereby further opening port 91 and further closing port 9|.

Variations in temperature of thus adds materially to the life of the thermostat.

Another advantageous feature of thismixing arrangement, is that in case the thermostat should break or for any reason become inoperative, the valve will immediately move to the left in Fig. 4 by spring I so as to completely close the ports 01 and t8 and thereby obviate any possibility of delivery of scaidingwater. Further protection against the delivery of excessively hot water in the event of failure of the cold water supply is afforded by the pressureequalizing device which, as previously explained, will'shut-ofi the hot water supply upon failure of the cold water supply.

It should be apparent from the foregoingthat our invention embodies a number of features desirable in a mixing valve of the character described. For instance, the various working parts of. the valve are all accessible from the front end may be shut off ,at the valve'by turning spindle 66 with a screw driver, which closes valve 65.

and likewise the cold water, maybe shut oil by turning spindle "which closes valve .H-. The

pressures of the hot and cold water are equalized in the equalizing chamber, thereby obviating temperaturefluctuations in the mixture deliveredby the valve resulting from variations in pres- The hot and cold wa are thoroughly interm ed before coming in conthe mixture will be automatically compensated. for in this manner so that the resultant mixture will always be delivered at, the desired tempera ture for which the valve is set. Should a colder mixture be desired, the adjusting handle M will be moved to engage a'higher portion of cam n with nut n, thereby moving the thermostat adjustment of the handle SI in the opposite direcspondinglydiminish" the cold'watr flow tion will increase thehot water flw and ggrrea and the valve as slightly to the right to intact with the thermos t, thereby protecting the thermostat against the injury resulting from subjection to extreme ranges of temperature, and the water is automatically shut off in case of failure of the thermostat. Furthermore, back flow of both hotand cold water from one line to the other in the event of difi'erencesin pressure in the supply lines is precluded by check valves 22 and 2|. The screens Hand." effectually screen both the incoming hot and cold water, and these screens are readily removable for cleaning or replacement purposes by simply crease the temperature of the resultantmixture.

The outer end of the thermostatic element 38 is guided in its rnovements by the guide ill, and its inner -end is guided by the valve member II to which it is rigidly attached. The spring illexerts-a constantpresure'against thether- 'mostatic element through the intermediary of .bodiment or our invention which at present without exceeding the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

We claim: l. A mixing valve comprising, in combination, a casing deflning'a mixing chamber and two separate inlet chambers for hot and cold'water when the thermostat contracts longitudinally as v of the temperature of the 7 respectively, valve means in said mixing chamber .for regulating the relative proportions of hot and flow of water to said inlet chambers in theevent it is necessary to remove said closure members to gain access to said screens, said means including a manually operable shut-01f valve at the inlet end of each chamber having a stem extending through the removable closure for such chamber into position for manipulation from outside such chamber and a check valve at the delivery end of each chamber. v

2. A mixing valve comprising, in combination, a casing defining four cylindrical chambers disposed parallel to each other in generally pyramidal form with three chambers in a bottom row and a single chamber at the pyramid apex, all y of said chambers being open at their forward ends and closed at their rear ends, the two outer chambers in said bottom row being arranged to form hot and cold water inlet chambers, separate removable closures for the open ends of said inlet chambers, a pressure equalizing valve in said chamber at the apex of said pyramid group,.said

casing being fashioned to form passages extending upwardly from the upper portions of said inlet chambers substantially tangentially of said pressure equalizing valve chamber and opening into the opposite sides of the latter, said passages being open at their upper ends, removable closures for said open passage ends, check valves in said passages accessible from said open upper ends ofsaid passages upon removal of said last named closures, mixing valve means in the cen; tral chamber of said bottom row, said casing forming a passage communicating from said pressure equalizing valve chamber to said mixing valve chamber, and a common removable member for-closing the outer ends of said two last named chambers to afford access to the valve means therein.

3. A mixing valve comprising, in combination, a casing defining four cylindrical chambers disposed parallel to each other in generally pyramidal form with three chambers in a bottom row and a single chamber at the apex, all of said chambers being open at their forward ends and closed at their rear ends, the two outer chambers in said bottom row being arranged to form hot and cold water inlet chambers, a pressure equalizing valve in the chamber at the apex of the pyramid group, said casing being fashioned to form passages extending upwardly from the upper front portions of said inlet chambers and substantiall tangentially of said pressure equalflow radially into the chamber and thence longitudinally of the chamber, a valve slidable in each seat member for regulating said respective ports, a piston in the cylinder between the seat members, connections between said piston and saidvalves, the seat members and said piston and valves being removable from the cylinder upon removal of said closure.

5. A mixing valve comprising a casing providing-a cylindrical pressure equalizing chamber, a mixing chamber and a thermostat chamber,

the position of the thermostat bodily in and longitudinally of the thermostat chamber.

6. A mixing valve comprising -a casing providing a plurality of longitudinally extending bores each connected. with a source of water supply, a screen and a shut-ofi valve disposed in each of said bores and removable from one .end of the casing, closures for theopenings through which said valves. and screens are removable,

" transverse passages extending from said bores, a

pressure equalizing chamber intermediate said passages, means connecting one of said passages with one end of said mixing chamber and the other of said passages with the other end of izing valve chamber and opening into the oppos site sides of the latter, said passages being open at their upper ends, closures for said open passage ends, check valves in said passages accessible from said open upper ends of saidpassages upon removal of said closures, mixing valve means in the central chamber in said bottom row, said casing forming a passage communicating from said pressure equalizing valve chamber tosaid mixing valve chamber, removable closure means for the open front ends of all of said chambers inlet connections kfor said inlet chambers arranged at the rear portions thereof, and an outlet connection for said mixing valve chamber arranged at the rear portion thereof.

4. A mixing valve comprising a casing pro-- viding a pressure equalizing chamber, a mixing chamber and a. thermostat chamber,said pressure equalizing chamber being of cylindrical construction and provided at one end with a removable closure, removable hollow seat members positioned in said chamber near the ends thereof -fand provided with radial ports permittingfiuid the mixing chamber, valve seat members removably mounted in the end portions of said mixing chamber, and through which liquid flow from said passages is delivered into the chamber, control valves reciprocable within said seat members to control the flow of water therethrough, a piston interposed between the seat members and connected with saidvalves whereby said valves are controlled, a cylindrical mixing chamber provided with ports communicating respectivelywith the pressure equalizing chamber at opposite sides of said piston, a slide valve in said mixing chamber for controlling the'hot and cold water flows into the mixingv chamber through said ports, a thermostat connected with said slide valve, a thermostat chamber enclosing the thermostat and communicating with the mixin chamber, said thermostat being slidably mounted within said chamber, a spring acting on said slide valve in opposition to the thermostat. and means for adjusting the position of the thermostat in said chamber. r

7. A mixing valve comprising, a casing defining four cylindrical chambers arranged in parallelism, two of said chambers'constituting hot and cold water inlet chambers being provided at one end with individually removable closures:

a shut-elf valve in each chamber provided with a stem projecting through such removable closure foi manipulation from outsidethe chamber/another of said chambersv constituting mpressure equalizing chamber and being provided with aremovable closure, removablevalve seats posi-;' tioned in said pressure equalizing chamber near.

the ends thereof, a pressure actuated piston located in the chamber intermediate the ends thereof, valves connected to said piston and arhere, the fourth of aaidchambera constituting a mixing chamber, means for. conducting hot and cold water from said pressure equalizing chambe: to said mixing chamber; a slide valve for regulating the amounts of hot and cold water 2,260,815,. w ranged to cooperate with said seats to regulate the amounts of hot and cold waterdelivered to said chamber iromsaid hot and cold inlet chamv delivered, a thermostat in said mixing chamber connected with said slide valve whereby the slide valve is actuated, and 'manually regulatable means for the position of said thermostat to thereby regulate the temperature of the water mixture delivered 'trom the casing.

ALBERT J. RUEGG. GLEN mm. 

